Judge Calls for Additional Evidence in Florida Abortion Ad Proceeding

Florida Surgeon General John Ladapo and Floridians Protecting Freedom must each file supplemental briefs on whether a preliminary injunction against the state will be needed after Election Day, said an order in U.S. District Court for Northern Florida Tuesday. The injunction, which FPF requested, would bar the state from taking legal action against TV stations running FPF’s campaign ad, which supports a state constitutional amendment limiting Florida from restricting abortions (see 2410290028). At Tuesday’s hearing, FPF said it would cease running the ad after the election, while the state said that it doesn’t plan to bring an enforcement action against stations now but it could later if it finds the ad harmed a Florida resident. Tuesday's order calls for Florida to file a supplemental brief on whether FPF’s claim is now moot, and for FPF to file a supplemental briefing showing that it would still face irreparable harm without an injunction. Both briefs are due Friday, and each side has until Monday to respond to the opposition’s brief, the order said.